Donald Trump warns Iran of ‘very powerful’ consequences over suspected missile rebuild

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Iran of “very powerful” consequences, saying there are indications that Tehran may be attempting to rebuild its ballistic missile programme at locations different from those targeted by US strikes earlier this year, though he stressed that the information has not yet been confirmed.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club while standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he does not believe Iran has expanded its nuclear capabilities but suggested the country “may be behaving badly.”

“I don’t want to say it, but Iran may have been behaving badly. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but if it is, they know the consequences,” Trump said. “The consequences will be powerful, maybe more powerful than last time. Iran should have made a deal last time. I had given them an option.”

Trump said he had read reports suggesting Iran was rebuilding weapons-related infrastructure, but not at the sites previously struck by US forces. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I’ve been reading, that they’re building up weapons and other things,” he said. “If they are, they’re not using the sites that we obliterated, but possibly different sites.”

“If they are, we’re going to have no choice but to very quickly eradicate that buildup. We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it,” Trump added, noting, “Usually, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Earlier this year, the United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran in an operation Trump has repeatedly described as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. However, Netanyahu has recently warned that Iran is once again expanding its ballistic missile activities and is expected to push for tougher action during discussions with Trump.

Asked whether he would support the overthrow of the Iranian regime, Trump avoided a direct response, instead pointing to Iran’s internal challenges. “I’m not going to talk about the overthrow of a regime,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of problems. There’s tremendous inflation, their economy is no good, and the people aren’t happy.”

He further alleged widespread unrest inside Iran, saying security forces routinely respond to protests with violence. “There is tremendous discontent,” Trump said.

The remarks came as Trump and Netanyahu met to discuss the second phase of the Gaza peace plan and broader regional security issues in the Middle East.

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